Pochettino guides USA to ‘statement’ win against Uruguay ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The United States recorded its most impressive victory under head coach Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday with a 5-1 thrashing of Uruguay in an international friendly.

A first-half US goal laid the foundation for the emphatic victory in Tampa against Marcelo Bielsa’s overwhelmed army.

The co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took a 4-0 lead just before half-time thanks to a goal from Sebastian Berhalter, two goals from Alex Freeman and a goal from Diego Luna in the 42nd minute.

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Although Giorgian de Arrascaeta pulled a goal back for Uruguay in first-half stoppage time, Pochettino’s team completed the rout with a Tanner Tessmann goal in the 68th minute.

It was the first time the United States had ever scored five goals against a World Cup-winning nation and was further evidence that Pochettino’s side are on an upward trend after a bumpy start to the Argentine coach’s reign.

American goalscorer Berhalter, the son of former American coach Gregg Berhalter, had set the ball rolling in the 17th minute with a sensational strike, curling a sweet shot into the far corner after a cleverly worked free kick.

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“We wanted to make a statement,” Sebastian Berhalter said afterwards.

«We wanted to show what American football is about. We had the chance to come out here and give everything we had and we were ready against a good Uruguay team,» the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder added.

“We just wanted to make the fans happy, give them something to believe in and hopefully tonight we went out there and did that.”

Published on November 19, 2025